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| This is a temporary place to edit a personal statement for JD's application to ic.ac.uk for a MSc in Advanced Compuer Science. Please feel free to edit things as you feel neccessary. You may want to look at [http://www.davidpashley.com/resume.html my CV]. | This is a temporary place to edit a personal statement for JD's application to ic.ac.uk for a MSc in Advanced Computer Science. Please feel free to edit things as you feel neccessary. You may want to look at [http://www.davidpashley.com/resume.html my CV]. |
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| ----draft 1---- [edit as appropriate for your own interests] I have had an interest in computing for many years; particularly enjoying .... I enjoying applying my mind to the solving of problems, usually showing persistence in persuading something to work. I also particularly enjoy the satisfaction of a well 'shaped' piece of code or a 'neat' proof. This leads me to a specific interest in <blah> areas of CS.... Other subjects which appeal to me are ... for similar reasons. The MSc at Imperial appeals to those interests, in particular the modules on ... . I want to do an MSc as the first step towards further academic study; blurgh blurgh. <need more> Outside of paid or academic study I am usually working on some personal computer-related project. These include <debian developer: blurgh blurgh>, etc, etc. I have therefore honed my skills in <wibble, blah> and <demonstrated that I am really interested in this stuff and would work!> I have a broad range of extra-curricular interests including <wibble, blah, blugh, [through which I <developed teamwork skills>], [which requires patience and persistence], [often working late into the night to fix blug]>. I [travel, help, wobble]. In the past I have [taken computer related jobs, eg leeds thing. say?] ----- I undertook my BSc at the University of Leeds as I was attracted by [blah, blah] in the course and the chance to develop [blah, blah]. I enjoyed [blah, blah] and was particularly successful at [blah - maybe give examples of modules other than your project], although I feel perhaps this wasn't reflected in my final 2:1 classification. I am now looking to for further challenges. In the Advanced Computer Science MSc I am looking to build on [blah, blah - why does this course seem so damned good??? Does it build on work already undertaken???] Maybe mention you work at Parguild. What are the transferable skills that would help you with your course, and what makes you stand out from any other comsci grad? |
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| It might be more important to put 'other non-academic achievements' before stuff about Parguild. Surely your work with Debian is a big achievement?!? I'd put down that you actually enjoy the challenge and satisfaction gained from mastering all the languages you know, but avoid the word 'tinkering' at all costs - it infers playing about, like guys might tinker with a classic car at the weekend but never actually get it fixed and on the road! I'd avoid phrases like: "I program a range of languages for fun " - somehow even though I know you do, it somehow sounds fake (I really do, honestly!). "I also enjoy travelling to technical conferences" from your CV doesn't sound right - do you just like the journey or something? NO! So maybe re-phrase: This year I have had the opportunity to attend [blah. Blah]. This provided a fantastic chance to meet up with like-minded people, exchange ideas and news, and start on new projects [?]. I am also a member of ([list geek groups!] and why this is a good thing). You'll then need some summary of why you'd be one of the most suitable candidates for their course, what you can offer (terms of commitment, interest) and what you would like to achieve through the MSc and how this could help you progress into... further research? |
[uh, 4.2 now? ] [hint from Uni personal statement: try and cut down on use of the word 'I' ?] |
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| how many words? don't you think you should be at least attempting to draft this? when should it be done by? |
I have a keen interest in compilers and languages, specifically parsing and program analysis. I am particularly interested in detecting security flaws and common programming errors like buffer overflows and memory leaks. Many aspects of the M.Sc. at Imperial appeal to these interests, especially the modules on Program Analysis and Advanced Issues in Object-Oriented Programming, along with complexity, finite automata and regular expressions. At Imperial, I would hope to build on work undertaken for my final year project to learn new skills and consolidate my understanding of program analysis and compilers. The MSc. could hopefully lead towards further academic study as I am currently considering a PhD on program analysis and static code checking. I would like to research techniques for developing automated tools for secure programming and producing more robust programs. I undertook my BSc. at the University of Leeds, attracted by the theoretical nature of the course and the chance to develop my programming and mathematical skills. Amongst others I enjoyed the Functional Programming and Graphics modules. I was particularly successful at Compiler Design which I applied to my final year project, designing and implementing a static source code checker for C++. I implemented a naive scheme to check for problems using python to test the code. When this proved inadaquate I researched techniques for correctly parsing C++, which would form the basis for any further work on the subject. While at Leeds I helped to develop a replacement student database for the department. I also helped to teach C++ programming and discrete mathematics to the lower years. Since graduating in 2001 my work as a systems administrator for a small computer consultancy has built on skills learnt during my undergraduate studies, where programming and systems analysis have been particularly vital. Close attention to deadlines has been important, as have communication skills when liasing with customers. In my spare time I am usually involved in computer-related projects, including working for the Debian Linux distribution where I currently maintain the irssi IRC client and help with KDE packaging. The work requires patience and persistence and I often take extra time to attend to details or fix bugs. I have learnt to program in a range of languages including C, C++, shell scripting, Perl and python and pick up new languages easily. I have used various different paradigms including procedural, OO, functional and declarative. Over the last year I have travelled to several technical conferences including FOSDEM in Brussels and Debconf in Oslo. This enabled me to meet up with like-minded people and exchange ideas and news. I am a membership of several local Linux user groups and have presented several talks, which has been valuable public speaking experience. To balance my computer-related work, I keep fit through juggling and badminton, relax with music and films, and take a lively interest in law and local government. I am a parish councillor, through which I have developed organizational and teamwork skills. I will require funding. ----- |
This is a temporary place to edit a personal statement for JD's application to ic.ac.uk for a MSc in Advanced Computer Science. Please feel free to edit things as you feel neccessary. You may want to look at [http://www.davidpashley.com/resume.html my CV].
The Question says:
Supplementary Personal Statement - Describe your academic interests and reasons for applying. Include details of work experience you consider relevant to your proposed study, careers objectives and relevant non-academic achievements. Expand on a separate sheet if required.
The Notes also have this to say: Use this space to tell us why you are interested in the subject for which you have applied. Describe your academic interests and reasons for applying to Imperial College. Selectors place particular importance on the personal statement.
- PhD:
ooh that looks scary when written down
- Computers:
okay need to mention a few things here
- Compilers, source code checking, clint
- debian
- general interest? tinkering? list programming etc.
- many programming languages mentioned in CV
- -done any fixing for local people? -degree? dissertation?
- jobs:
- Cranfield - skills?
- Leeds Uni Summer programming job, teaching lower years. shows good communication and an understanding of your subject.
- PGL - skills? relevance???
- Parish council, law, music: juggling?
- Skills: Parish council - skills?
- Juggling, photography - skills? badminton, music - relevant? if so - variety? anything else?
- Skills: Parish council - skills?
[uh, 4.2 now? ] [hint from Uni personal statement: try and cut down on use of the word 'I' ?]
I have a keen interest in compilers and languages, specifically parsing and program analysis. I am particularly interested in detecting security flaws and common programming errors like buffer overflows and memory leaks. Many aspects of the M.Sc. at Imperial appeal to these interests, especially the modules on Program Analysis and Advanced Issues in Object-Oriented Programming, along with complexity, finite automata and regular expressions. At Imperial, I would hope to build on work undertaken for my final year project to learn new skills and consolidate my understanding of program analysis and compilers. The MSc. could hopefully lead towards further academic study as I am currently considering a PhD on program analysis and static code checking. I would like to research techniques for developing automated tools for secure programming and producing more robust programs.
I undertook my BSc. at the University of Leeds, attracted by the theoretical nature of the course and the chance to develop my programming and mathematical skills. Amongst others I enjoyed the Functional Programming and Graphics modules. I was particularly successful at Compiler Design which I applied to my final year project, designing and implementing a static source code checker for C++. I implemented a naive scheme to check for problems using python to test the code. When this proved inadaquate I researched techniques for correctly parsing C++, which would form the basis for any further work on the subject. While at Leeds I helped to develop a replacement student database for the department. I also helped to teach C++ programming and discrete mathematics to the lower years.
Since graduating in 2001 my work as a systems administrator for a small computer consultancy has built on skills learnt during my undergraduate studies, where programming and systems analysis have been particularly vital. Close attention to deadlines has been important, as have communication skills when liasing with customers.
In my spare time I am usually involved in computer-related projects, including working for the Debian Linux distribution where I currently maintain the irssi IRC client and help with KDE packaging. The work requires patience and persistence and I often take extra time to attend to details or fix bugs. I have learnt to program in a range of languages including C, C++, shell scripting, Perl and python and pick up new languages easily. I have used various different paradigms including procedural, OO, functional and declarative. Over the last year I have travelled to several technical conferences including FOSDEM in Brussels and Debconf in Oslo. This enabled me to meet up with like-minded people and exchange ideas and news. I am a membership of several local Linux user groups and have presented several talks, which has been valuable public speaking experience.
To balance my computer-related work, I keep fit through juggling and badminton, relax with music and films, and take a lively interest in law and local government. I am a parish councillor, through which I have developed organizational and teamwork skills.
I will require funding.